Information processing apparatus and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus establishes a proximity wireless link with a partner device and utilizes instantaneous interruptions of the wireless link to control processing of data transfer between the information processing apparatus and the partner device. A control unit in the information processing apparatus determines a frequency of the instantaneous interruptions of the wireless link generated within a predetermined time based on a reception state of a plurality of signals transmitted from the partner device, and controls the processing of data transfer between the information processing apparatus and the partner device according to the determined frequency of instantaneous interruptions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus andcontrol method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, close proximity wireless communication (noncontactcommunication) techniques have proliferated due to widely recognizedadvantages such as high-speed data transfer, device mobility, and easeof deployment. As an example, a known proximity wireless communicationtechnique is applied to a noncontact integrated circuit (IC) cardcontaining a radiofrequency identification (RFID) circuit. Thenoncontact IC card is used, for example, as a train pass or the likeutilizing an advantage of allowing easy access between devices.

A communication method for proximity wireless communication includesnear field communication (NFC) using electromagnetic induction,TransferJet (registered trademark) using induction field, and the like.

The above-named proximity wireless communication methods are limited tosignificantly short communication distances. Thus, when close proximitycommunication devices are located close to each other, within acommunication range (e.g., in NFC, within 10 cm, and in TransferJet,within 3 cm), a wireless link is established therebetween. When therespective devices are located away from each other (out of thecommunication range), the wireless link is disconnected.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-92139 discusses executingdisconnection processing of an upper layer protocol when a predeterminedtime has elapsed after a wireless link is disconnected.

Thus, in the proximity wireless communication, the wireless link can beconnected or disconnected by an intuitive user operation by locatingrespective devices close thereto or away therefrom. Accordingly, therespective devices connected with the wireless link are once locatedapart therefrom and are immediately located close thereto, therebyallowing instantaneous interruption of the wireless to be intentionallygenerated. The instantaneous interruption of the wireless link indicatesthat the wireless link is reconnected within predetermined time (e.g.,within 200 milliseconds) after the wireless link is disconnected.

However, conventionally, utilizing Intentionally-generated instantaneousinterruption of a wireless link to control an application on a devicehas not been considered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an informationprocessing apparatus having a wireless communication function ofestablishing a wireless link with a partner device when a distancebetween the information processing apparatus and the partner device iswithin a predetermined range and of disconnecting the wireless link whenthe distance is out of the predetermined range includes: a receivingunit configured to receive a plurality of wireless signals transmittedfrom the partner device, with which the wireless link is established,within a predetermined time; a determination unit configured todetermine a frequency of instantaneous interruptions of the wirelesslink generated within the predetermined time based on a reception stateof the receiving unit; and a control unit configured to controlprocessing concerning data transfer between the information processingapparatus and the partner device according to the frequency of theinstantaneous interruptions determined by the determination unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an informationprocessing apparatus includes: an establishing unit configured toestablish a wireless link with a partner device; a receiving unitconfigured to receive a plurality of signals transmitted from thepartner device, with which the wireless link by the establishing unit isestablished, within a predetermined time; a determination unitconfigured to determine a frequency of instantaneous interruptions ofthe wireless link generated within the predetermined time based on areception state of the receiving unit; a selection unit configured toselect an application to be started according to the frequency ofinstantaneous interruptions determined by the determination unit; and atransfer unit configured to start the application selected by theselection unit to execute data transfer processing according to theapplication.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a controlmethod of an information processing apparatus having a wirelesscommunication function of establishing a wireless link with a partnerdevice when a distance between the information processing apparatus andthe partner device is within a predetermined range and of disconnectingthe wireless link when the distance is out of the predetermined range,the control method comprising: determining a frequency of instantaneousinterruptions of a wireless link generated within a predetermined timebased on a reception state of a plurality of signals transmitted fromthe partner device within the predetermined time; and controlling anapplication according to the frequency of instantaneous interruptionsdetermined.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a controlmethod of an information processing apparatus includes: determining afrequency of instantaneous interruptions of a wireless link generatedwithin a predetermined time based on a reception state of signalstransmitted from a partner device, with which the wireless link isestablished, within the predetermined time; selecting data to betransferred from the information processing apparatus to the partnerdevice according to the determined frequency of instantaneousinterruptions; and transferring the selected data to the partner device.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodimenta with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adigital camera.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adisplay.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system configuration example of an image datatransfer system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operation processing of a digitalcamera.

FIG. 5 illustrated an example of notifying an application processingunit of response information from a Communications processing unit.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a method for detecting instantaneousinterruption.

FIG. 7 illustrates another example of a method for detectinginstantaneous interruption.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

A configuration of an image data transfer system in the presentexemplary embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the image data transfer system includes adigital camera 1 and a display 2 with a proximity wireless communicationfunction therebetween. Examples of proximity wireless communicationtechniques include NFC, TransferJet™ or the like. However, othercommunication methods can also be applied to the proximity wirelesscommunication. A distance between an antenna 104 to be provided on thedigital camera 1 and an antenna 202 to be provided on the display 2 isproximately located within a range of several millimeters to severalcentimeters. Thus, a wireless link is established (connected) to allowimage data to be transferred from the digital camera I to the display 2.

The display 2 includes a display function for displaying image datareceived from the digital camera 1 on a display unit 203 and a storagefunction for saving (storing) the image data in a storage unit 204. Thedisplay 2 allows the respective functions not only to be selectivelyoperated but also to be operated in parallel.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a predetermined number ofoperations is executed in which the digital camera 1 and the display 2are proximately located to connect the wireless link, and then, afterthe wireless link is temporarily disconnected by an intentional useroperation, the digital camera 1 and the display 2 are proximatelylocated again to reconnect the wireless link. In the followingdescription, reconnecting the wireless link within predetermined timeafter the wireless link is disconnected will be described as“instantaneous interruption” of the wireless link.

To better distinguish an instantaneous interruption from, for example, a“permanent interruption”, it should be understood that in a permanentinterruption the wireless link is completely disconnected when thewireless link is not reconnected within the predetermined time after thewireless link is disconnected. The above-described predetermined time todetermine whether an instantaneous interruption occurs or not is set inconsideration of a user operation speed in which the digital camera 1 isonce located apart form the display 2 and then is repeatedly locatedclose thereto (e.g., within 200 mSec).

The predetermined time may be set prior to delivery of the digitalcamera 1 from a factory, or the digital camera 1 may be configured sothat a user can set the predetermined time based on personalpreferences. Now, an example of detecting instantaneous interruption ofthe wireless link generated by such the user operation to control datatransfer processing between the digital camera 1 and the display 2according to characteristics of the detected instantaneous interruptionswill be described.

A block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digitalcamera 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment is illustrated inFIG. 1. An image capture unit 101 generates image data from an opticalimage of an object. A memory 102 stores the image data generated by theimage capture unit 101 and other various types of information.

A wireless control unit 103 reclines a proximity wireless communicationfunction. An antenna 104 transmits or receives a signal by proximitywireless communication. The wireless control unit 103 controls whetherthe wireless link by the proximity wireless communication is in aconnection state or a disconnection state.

A search timer 105 measures transmission time of a search packet andgenerates an event when the transmission time ends. Time to be measuredby the search timer 105 may be set on a device in delivery from afactory or may be provided so that a user can set later.

A response monitor unit 106 monitors the presence or absence ofreception of a search response packet to a search packet and notifies toan instantaneous interruption determination unit 107 of the receptionstate of the search response packet as response information. The searchpacket is a confirmation signal to be transmitted in order to confirmwhether the connected wireless link is maintained. A device on the otherend of the wireless link (e.g., display 2 in FIG. 3) that has normallyreceived the search packet is controlled so as to transmit the searchresponse packet as a response signal. For purposes of the presentspecification, the digital camera 1 may also be referred to as aninformation processing apparatus, and the display 2 may also be referredto as a partner device.

The instantaneous interruption determination unit 107 detects aninstantaneous interruption from response information notified from theresponse monitor unit 106 and also analyzes characteristics of theinstantaneous interruption such as a frequency of the instantaneousinterruption, an interval of the instantaneous interruption, and apattern (rhythm) of the instantaneous interruption. A control unit 108controls processing of the whole digital camera 1. The control unit 108controls processing concerning data transfer according to thecharacteristics of the instantaneous interruption determined by theinstantaneous interruption determination unit 107.

Further, a communication processing unit 109 includes the wirelesscontrol unit 103, the search timer 105, and the response monitor unit106. An application processing unit 110 includes the instantaneousinterruption determination unit 107 and the control unit 108.

On an operation unit 111, a user performs various operations such as animage capture instruction and a start instruction of the proximitywireless communication. A display unit 112 displays image data generatedby the image capture unit 101, a message to prompt a user to performvarious operations, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block-diagram illustrating a configuration example of thedisplay 2 according to the present exemplary embodiment. A wirelesscontrol unit 201 realizes the proximity wireless communication function.An antenna 202 transmits or receives a signal by the proximity wirelesscommunication. The wireless control unit 201 controls whether thewireless link by the proximity wireless communication is in theconnection state or the disconnection state.

A display unit 202 displays image data transferred from the digitalcamera 1 via the proximity wireless communication function, and of hervarious types of information. A storage unit 204 stores image datatransferred from the digital camera 1, and other various types ofinformation. A control unit 205 controls processing of the whole display2.

The above-described functional block configuration is an example. Aplurality of functional blocks may also configure one functional block.Any functional block may also further be separated into a plurality ofblocks that executes different functions.

A processing flow of the digital camera 1 according to the presentexemplary embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 4.

The proximity wireless communication function of the digital camera 1and the display 2 is in a state to allow a wireless link to beconnected. In a stage of starting this processing flow, the state of awireless link to be controlled by the wireless control unit 103 on thedigital camera 1 and the wireless control unit 201 on the display 2 isin the disconnection state.

Further, in the memory 102 provided on the digital camera 1, image datacaptured by the image capture unit 101 in advance or image data acquiredfrom other devices via the proximity wireless communication is stored.

First, in step S101, when a user performs a start instruction operationof the proximity wireless communication using the operation unit 111 onthe digital camera 1, the wireless control unit 103 starts connectionprocessing of the proximity wireless communication.

The user holds the digital camera 1 by hands and disposes the antenna104 on the digital camera 1 and the antenna 202 on the display 2 so asto be proximately located. When disposition of both antennas is in aproximity state, connection is established and thus the wireless link isconnected (YES in step S102). In step S102, the state of the wirelesslink to be controlled by the wireless control unit 103 on the digitalcamera 1 and the wireless control unit 201 on the display 2 is changedfrom the disconnection state to the connection state repeatedly.

In FIG. 4, it has been described that in step S101 the user performs thestart instruction operation of the proximity wireless communication tothereby start connection processing. However, the user operation may notnecessarily be performed. For example, the antenna 104 on the digitalcamera 1 and the antenna 202 on the display 2 may only need to belocated proximate to each other to thereby cause connection processingof the wireless link to be automatically started by the wireless controlunit 103 and the wireless control unit 201.

In step S103, the state of the wireless link is in the connection state.When the state of the wireless link is in the connection state, thedigital camera 1 results in a state to allow a user operation forinstantaneously interrupting the wireless link (hereinafter, referred toas an instantaneous interruption operation) to be accepted. At thistime, a message for notifying the user that the instantaneousinterruption operation is acceptable may be displayed on the displayunit 112. Then, in step S104, the digital camera 1 starts the searchtimer 105 for measuring a period of time to be acceptable for theinstantaneous interruption operation.

In order to intentionally generate the instantaneous interruption of thewireless link, the user executes a predetermined number of instantaneousinterruptions operations during the period until the search timer 105ends (e.g., within 5 sec). The instantaneous interruption operation issuch that the digital camera 1 is once located apart from the display 2,and then the digital camera 1 is located close to the display 2. Then,an application to be started is selected according to thecharacteristics of the instantaneous interruption generated during theperiod until the search timer 105 ends.

The characteristics of the instantaneous interruption includes, forexample, a frequency of the instantaneous interruption, an interval ofeach instantaneous interruption, and a pattern (rhythm) of theinstantaneous interruption. The pattern of the instantaneousinterruption can be determined using the frequency and the interval ofthe instantaneous interruption.

In FIG. 4, an example of selecting the application to be startedaccording to the frequency of the instantaneous interruption generatedduring the period until the search timer 105 ends will be described.

For example, when two instantaneous interruptions have been generated,the digital camera 1 starts an image display application, transmitsimage data to the display 2, and causes the display unit 203 on thedisplay 2 to display the image data.

Further, when three instantaneous interruptions have been generated, thedigital camera 1 starts an image storage application, transmits imagedata to the display 2, and causes the storage unit 204 on the display 2to store the image data.

Furthermore, when four instantaneous interruptions have been generated,the digital camera 1 starts an image display-storage application,transmits image data to the display 2, and causes the display unit 203on the display 2 to display the image data, and causes storage unit 204on the display 2 to store the image data. Thus, in the present exemplaryembodiment, instantaneous interruption is intentionally generated withthe predetermined frequency corresponding to an application that theuser intends to use.

The present exemplary embodiment has been described in which theinstantaneous interruption operation is triggered by the connection ofthe wireless link to be changed into an acceptable state of theinstantaneous interruption operation. However, a change in a state mayalso be executed using another trigger. For example, when an instructionto shift to an instantaneous interruption operation acceptance mode ismade via the operation unit 111, the instantaneous interruptionoperation may also be changed into the acceptable state.

Thus, a method for controlling an application using a normal userinterface (UI) such as the operation unit 111 and the display unit 112,and a method for controlling an application by the instantaneousinterruption operation can suitably be switched by the intention of theuser.

In step S105, the digital camera 1 transmits a search packet to thedisplay 2. In step S106, the digital camera 1 monitors the presence orabsence of a search response packet from the display 2. In step S107,the digital camera 1 determines whether the search timer 105 has timedout. If the search timer 105 has not timed out (NO at step S107), thedigital camera 1 periodically transmits the search packet (e.g., for aperiod of 100 msec) until the search timer 105 is timed out (YES at stepS107).

The transmission period of the search packet can suitably be set so thatinstantaneous interruption is detectable. For example, in order todetect instantaneous interruption having instantaneous interruption timeof T sec or longer, a transmission interval or the search packet ispreferably set to T/2 sec or shorter. The transmission interval of thesearch packet may be set in delivery from a factory or may be providedso that a user can set later.

In step S108, the response monitor unit 106 on the communicationprocessing unit 109 notifies the application processing unit 110 of thereceived result of the search response packet as response information.In step S109, the instantaneous interruption determination unit 107 onthe application processing unit 110 detects instantaneous interruptionfrom the notified response information and also determinescharacteristics of the instantaneous interruption. The characteristicsof the determined instantaneous interruption include a frequency of theinstantaneous interruption, an interval of tine instantaneousinterruption, a pattern (rhythm) of the instantaneous interruption, andthe like.

A processing example until the response monitor unit 106 on thecommunication processing unit 109 notifies the application processingunit 110 of the received result of the search response packet asresponse information will be described referring to FIG. 5.

When the instantaneous interruption operation is changed into theacceptable state, the communication processing unit 109 starts thesearch timer 105, and starts transmission of the search packet. In FIG.5, to simplify the description, the search packet in transmitted threetimes until the search timer 105 is timed out.

Once a wireless link between the digital camera 1 and the display 2 hasbeen established, intentionally generated instantaneous interruptionscan occurs as follows: Within a period of time to accept theinstantaneous interruption operation, the user moves the digital camera1 so that the antenna 104 on the digital camera 1 and the antenna 202 onthe display 2 are not in a proximity state and also immediately movesthe digital camera 1 to dispose tine digital camera 1 proximal to thedisplay 2 (i.e., in a proximity state). Thus, the user moves the digitalcamera 1 away from and proximal to the display 2, thereby causinginstantaneous interruption of the wireless link between the digitalcamera 1 and the display 2. That is, the instantaneous interruption isintentionally generated. When the instantaneous interruption starts, thecommunication processing unit 109 of digital camera 1 transmits a searchpacket to display 2, at step F501.

Then, a state occurs in. which several seared packets do not reach thedisplay 2 and the search response packet from the display 2 is nottransmitted, or even if the display 2 can receive the search packet,several search response packets do not reach the digital camera 1, atstep F502.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, a search response packet in stepF502 to a search packet in step F501 cannot be received by the digitalcamera 1. Thus, the response monitor unit 106 stores “reception or apacket is absent” in memory 102. On the other hand, a search responsepacket in steps F504 and F506 in response to a search packet transmittedin steps F503 and F505, respectively, can be received by the digitalcamera 1. Thus, the response monitor unit 106 stores “reception of apacket is present” (i.e., reception state) in memory 102.

In step F507, the response monitor curt 106 generates the presence orabsence of reception of a search response packet as responseinformation. For example, “reception of packet is present” may be set to“1” and “reception of packet is absent” may be set to “0”. Accordingly,in the above-described scenario, response information “011” isgenerated. Then, in step F508, the response monitor unit 106 notifiesthe application processing unit 110 of the generated responseinformation.

Next, a method in which the instantaneous interruption determinationunit 107 on the application processing unit 110 detects interruptiondetermination from response information notified from the responsemonitor unit 106 will be described in detail referring to FIGS. 6 and 7.FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating the reception state of a searchresponse packet to a search packet. As described above, the responsemonitor unit 106 on she communication processing unit 109 notifies theapplication processing unit 110 of the presence or absence of receptionof a search response packet as response information.

FIG. 6 is an example of detecting generation of an instantaneousinterruption when patterns of “0” and “1” to be contained in theresponse information are consistent with a predetermined pattern. Forexample, as a response pattern to detect an instantaneous interruption,“1001” is stored in the memory 102. Then, it is determined whether theresponse pattern is contained in the response information and how manyresponse patterns are contained therein.

In an example illustrated in FIG. 6, the response information is set to“110011001101”. By comparing the response information with theabove-described response pattern, the instantaneous interruptiondetermination unit 107 determines that the instantaneous interruption isgenerated two times. When this method is used, even if a portion of thepattern (e.g., “101”) where a search response packet is not received byone time is present in the response information, its portion is notdetermined as the instantaneous interruption.

Thus, it is particularly effective when executing control such that, forexample, if the generated instantaneous interruptions have occurred at apredetermined interval, a predetermined application is started (the usermoves digital camera 1 so as to generate instantaneous interruptions atthe predetermined interval). It is preferable to prepare a plurality ofresponse patterns for detecting an instantaneous interruption todetermine that an instantaneous interruption is generated when it isconsistent with any one of the response patterns.

FIG. 7 is an example in which an instantaneous interruptions isdetermined to have been generated at a portion where the responseinformation, the pattern “0” is switched to the pattern “1”. In otherwords, it is an example when the pattern “01” is used, as a responsepattern to detect the instantaneous interruption. In an exampleillustrated in FIG. 7, the response information is “110011000101”. Sincethree portions where the pattern is switched from “0” to “1” aredetected, the instantaneous interruption determination unit 107determines that the instantaneous interruption is generated three times.

When this method is used, even it a plurality of search response packetsare not continuously received, it is determined that the instantaneousinterruption is generated once. In other words, if an operation in whichthe digital camera 1 is once located apart from the display 2 and thedigital camera 1 is repeatedly located close to the display 2 isperformed, regardless of the length of time during the digital camera 1being apart from the display 2, it is determined that the instantaneousinterruption is generated once. Accordingly, if is particularlyeffective, for example, when executing a control to set a predeterminedapplication to be started based on the frequency of the generatedinstantaneous interruptions. That is, using the above-described controlmethod different applications can be started according to the frequency,interval, duration, or pattern of the intentionally generatedinstantaneous interruptions.

The examples described in FIGS. 6 and 7 are an example of the method fordetecting instantaneous interruptions. Thus, another method may also beused. An instantaneous interruption may also be detected by combiningthe methods illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. By adaptively using thesemethods, even if it is influenced by an individual difference in a speedor a difference in timing to move the digital camera 1, an instantaneousinterruption can suitably be detected.

Returning now to description of FIG. 4, the digital camera 1 determinesthe characteristics of the instantaneous interruption in step S109. Instep S110, the control unit 108 on the application processing unit 110confirms whether the connection state of the wireless link ismaintained. When the connection is not maintained (NO in step S110), instep S111, disconnection processing is executed. Then, the processingends.

Whether the connection state of the wireless link is maintained can beconfirmed by analyzing the response information transmitted by theresponse monitor unit 106. For example, if the last portion of theresponse information is “0” (when reception of search response packet tothe latest transmitted search packet is absent), it can be determinedthat the wireless link is disconnected. That is, it can be determinedthat a permanent interruption has occurred.

However, when it is determined in step S110 that the connection of thewireless link is maintained (YES in step S110), the process advances tostep S112. In step S112, the control unit 108 controls an applicationaccording to the determined characteristics of the instantaneousinterruption. For example, when the frequency of the instantaneousinterruptions detected within a acceptable period of time for theinstantaneous interruption operation is two times, the control unit 108starts the image display application, transfers image data from thedigital camera 1 to the display 2 in step S113, and also transmits adisplay request of the image data in step S114.

Then, the display 2 that has received the image data transmitted fromthe digital camera 1 and the display request of the image data displaysthe received image data an the display unit 203.

Further, when the frequency of instantaneous interruptions detectedwithin a acceptable period of time for the instantaneous interruptionoperation is three times, the control unit 108, for example, starts theimage storage application, transfers image data from the digital camera1 to the display 2 in step S113, and also transmits a storage request ofthe image data in step S114. Then, the display 2 that has received theimage data transmitted from the digital camera 1 and the storage requestof the image data stores the received image data in the storage unit204.

Thus, according to the present exemplary embodiment, an instantaneousinterruption of the wireless link that the user has intentionallygenerated can be detected and also characteristics of the instantaneousinterruption can be determined. Hence, an application can be controlledaccording to the determined characteristics of the instantaneousinterruption.

Accordingly, the user may change a speed or a rhythm of theinstantaneous interruption operation according to the application thatthe user intends to use. Thus, this can eliminate a complicatedoperation of wired data transfer and improve convenience of the user.Therefore, the UI can be realized, which uses the characteristics of theproximity wireless communication so that mere small separation of adistance between devices disconnects the wireless link and reflects anintuitive operation by the user.

Furthermore, its the present exemplary embodiment, the instantaneousinterruption determination unit 107 has executed detection ofinstantaneous interruption and determination of characteristics ofinstantaneous interruption. However, the response monitor unit 106 mayexecute the determination of characteristics of the instantaneousinterruption and according to the determined result, the control unit108 may control an application.

Still furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the digitalcamera has determined the characteristics of the instantaneousinterruption of a wireless link based on the reception state of a searchresponse packet to a search packet periodically transmitted therefromwithin an acceptable period of time for an instantaneous interruptionoperation. However, the search packet may not be necessarily transmittedfrom the digital camera.

For example, within an acceptable period of time for the instantaneousinterruption operation, a display may periodically transmit a searchpacket, and a digital camera may detect an instantaneous interruption ofa wireless link and determine characteristics or the instantaneousinterruption based on the reception state of the search packet.

Further, in the present exemplary embodiment, a system using a digitalcamera and display has been described. However, the present inventioncan be applied to an information processing apparatus, if it has aproximity wireless communication function, such as a cellular phone, aprinter, a digital video camera, and a personal computer (PC).

Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, an example of startingthe image display application or the image storage application accordingto characteristics of the instantaneous interruption generated withinpredetermined time has been described. However, another application maybe started. The types of applications to be started can suitably beselected according to a combination of devices that configure aproximity communications system.

For example, in a combination of a digital camera and a printer, animage may be transferred from the digital camera to the printer and animage printing application may be executed according to the generatedcharacteristics of the instantaneous Interruptions.

Still furthermore, even if an application to be executed is similar,processing to be executed may be changed according to the generatedcharacteristics of the instantaneous interruption. For example, imagedata to be transferred may be switched according to the generatedfrequency of instantaneous interruptions.

An image display application is exemplified here. A plurality of imagesare displayed on the display unit 112 on a digital camera, and one ofthese images is selected. Then, according to the frequency ofinstantaneous interruptions generated at that time, whether only animage in process of selection is transferred to a display to display theimage on the display or all images in process of display are transferredto display on the display may also be switched.

Further, in a case of an image storage application, according to thegenerated frequency of instantaneous interruptions, whether only animage in process of display on the display unit 112 is transferred to adisplay to store it or all un-transferred images are transferred to thedisplay to snore it may also be switched.

Furthermore, in a combination of a digital camera and a printer, whetheronly an image in process of display on the display 112 is printed or animage that is reserved to be printed in advance by a user is printed, orall images stored in a memory are printed may also be switched accordingto the generated frequency of instantaneous interruptions. Thus, as amethod for controlling an application, there may be various methods.

Still furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, a case in whichcharacteristics of the instantaneous interruption are determined on thedigital camera side to control an application has been described.However, the characteristics of the instantaneous interruption may alsobe determined on the display side to control an application. In thiscase, the display can determine the characteristics of the instantaneousinterruption of a wireless link based on the reception state of a searchpacket to be transmitted from a digital camera.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment,control of data transfer processing positively utilizing theinstantaneous interruption of a wireless link can be realized.

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer Of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiments, and by a method, the steps of whichare performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, for example,reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory device toperform the functions of the above-described embodiments. For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (e.g., computer-readable medium). In such a case, thesystem or apparatus, and the recording medium where the program isstored, are included as being within the scope of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is userlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. As long as an imageprocessing apparatus is capable of positively utilizing intentionallygenerated instantaneous interruptions of a wireless link to control apartner device and the processing Of data transfer therebetween, theabove-described embodiments may be modified and applied to numerousenvironments. Accordingly, the scope of the following claims is to beaccorded the broadest reasonable interpretation so as to encompass allmodifications, equivalent structures, and functions.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2009-092309 filed Apr. 6, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. An information processing apparatus comprising: awireless communication unit configured to connect a wireless link with apartner device in response to a distance from the partner device beingwithin a communication possible range and to disconnect the wirelesslink in response to the distance from the partner device being out ofthe communication possible range; a determination unit configured todetermine a connection state with the partner device by the wirelesscommunication unit; and a control unit configured to control anapplication according to a determination result by the determinationunit within a predetermined period with the partner device.
 14. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein thecontrol unit is configured to control an application according to anumber of times the wireless link is disconnected within thepredetermined period.
 15. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 13, wherein the determination unit is configured to determinethe number of times the wireless link is disconnected within thepredetermined period based on a reception state of a signal transmittedfrom the partner device a plurality of times within the predeterminedperiod.
 16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13,wherein the control unit is configured to select an application to bestarted by the information processing apparatus according to thedetermination result by the determination unit within the predeterminedperiod with the partner device.
 17. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein the determination unit is furtherconfigured to determine an interval between instantaneous disconnectionswithin the predetermined period, and wherein the control unit isconfigured to control an application based on the number of times thewireless communication is disconnected and the interval between theinstantaneous disconnections determined by the determination unit. 18.The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, furthercomprising a transmission unit configured to transmit a confirmationsignal for confirming whether the wireless link is maintained, whereinthe determination unit is configured to determine a connection state ofthe wireless link based on a response signal to the confirmation signaltransmitted a plurality of times within the predetermined period. 19.The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, furthercomprising: a storage unit configured to store a response pattern fordetecting a disconnection of the wireless link from response informationindicating whether the response signal is received or not; and adetection unit configured to detect a disconnection of the wireless linkby matching the response information with the response pattern, whereinthe determination unit is configured to determine the connection stateof the wireless link based on detection by the detection unit.
 20. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 13, furthercomprising a storage unit configured to store data, wherein the controlunit is configured to control an application for transferring datastored in the storage unit to the partner device according to adetermination result by the determination unit.
 21. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the control unit isconfigured to select image data to be transferred to the partner devicefrom the data stored in the storage unit according to the determinationresult by the determination unit and to transfer the selected image datato the partner device.
 22. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein the control unit is configured to selectan application to be started according to the number of times thewireless link is disconnected determined by the determination unit andto transfer data according to the selected application.
 23. A controlmethod of controlling an information processing apparatus including awireless communication unit configured to connect a wireless link with apartner device in response to a distance from the partner device beingwithin a communication possible range and to disconnect the wirelesslink in response to the distance from the partner device being out ofthe communication possible range, the control method comprising:controlling an application according to a connection state of thewireless link with the partner device within a predetermined period. 24.A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing acomputer to execute the control method according to claim
 23. 25. Aninformation processing apparatus comprising: a wireless communicationunit configured to connect a wireless link with a partner device inresponse to a distance from the partner device being within acommunication possible range and to disconnect the wireless link inresponse to the distance from the partner device being out of thecommunication possible range; a determination unit configured todetermine a connection state with the partner device by the wirelesscommunication unit; a selection unit configured to select data to becommunicated according to a determination result by the determinationunit; and a communication unit configured to communication the dataselected by the selection unit.
 26. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 25, wherein the selection unit is configured toselect data to communication to the partner device according to a numberof times the wireless link is disconnected within a predeterminedperiod.
 27. The information processing apparatus according to claim 25,wherein the determination unit is configured to determine the number oftimes the wireless link is disconnected within a predetermined periodbased on a reception state of a signal transmitted from the partnerdevice a plurality of times within the predetermined period.
 28. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein thedetermination unit is further configured to determine an intervalbetween instantaneous disconnections within a predetermined period, andwherein the selection unit is configured to select data to becommunicated based on the number of times the wireless link isdisconnected and the interval between the instantaneous disconnectionsdetermined by the determination unit.
 29. The information processingapparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a transmission unitconfigured to transmit a confirmation signal for confirming whether thewireless link is maintained, wherein the determination unit isconfigured to determine a connection state of the wireless link based ona response signal to the confirmation signal transmitted a plurality oftimes within a predetermined period.
 30. The information processingapparatus according to claim 29, further comprising: a storage unitconfigured to store a response pattern for detecting a disconnection ofthe wireless link from response information indicating whether theresponse signal is received or not; and a detection unit configured todetect a disconnection of the wireless link by matching the responseinformation with the response pattern, wherein the determination unit isconfigured to determine the connection state of the wireless link basedon detection by the detection unit.
 31. The information processingapparatus according to claim 25, wherein the data is image data.
 32. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein thecommunication unit is configured to transfer the data selected by theselection unit from the information processing apparatus to the partnerdevice.
 33. A control method of controlling an information processingapparatus including a wireless communication unit configured to connecta wireless link with a partner device in response to a distance from thepartner device being within a communication possible range and todisconnect the wireless link in response to the distance from thepartner device being out of the communication possible range, thecontrol method comprising: selecting data to be communicated accordingto a connection state of the wireless link with the partner device bythe wireless communication unit within a predetermined period.
 34. Acomputer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing acomputer to execute the control method according to claim
 33. 35. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein thewireless communication unit is configured to use near fieldcommunication (NFC).